I just compared my road flats to my track spikes and realized the flats are lighter.
What is more beneficial: a slightly lighter shoe or 1/4" spikes for a distance like 3k? What do spikes actually do for distance events run at less than sprint speeds??
Force an aggressive stride.
Grip.
slick flats on tight turns could cause problems.
what are these awful spikes you have?
The better shoe is the one you're more comfortable racing in. The average person will probably race a little faster in the spikes..
zeropluszero wrote:
what are these awful spikes you have?
My spikes are fine but my road flats are feather-light.
The grip on my flats is just fine so I don't think grip should be an issue that I notice (but perhaps I'm losing some traction that I wouldn't notice...).
I've seen road flats used outdoors for 5k/10k but I'm wondering how that would work on an indoor banked track.
How do spikes force an aggressive stride?
concerned track runner wrote:
zeropluszero wrote:
what are these awful spikes you have?
How do spikes force an aggressive stride?
angled plate + plate stiffness + spike positioning = more efficiency, forefoot focus
Also, 3K is very close to mile effort and pace so I'd reckon you'd be a fool to wear flats.
What flats make/model are you talking about?
Why don’t you go run a 400 in each at equal effort and compare times/feel? Should be easy to tell if the flats aren’t gripping well enough in the turns.
KAV wrote:
What flats make/model are you talking about?
reebok floatride racers pro
If indoor, spikes all the way. If outdoor, it depends on how fast you are. If you run a 15 minute 3k then flats. If you run an 8 min 3k than spikes. I’d say somewhere in the 10min 3k would be the handoff from flats to spikes.
I would say that it would be better to wear flats if you are running multiple races and your calves are sore(we've all been there). My team is only allowed to wear flats on the 2 mile(3200, 3k) since they will help with injury(that relates to calves). The only advice I have if you follow through with this is to not accelerate too fast, and stay in the front because many will be able to outkick you if you are in the back of the pack. Spikes are good for finishing kicks as well.
Hope this helps-EGF :)
I'd still love to know what spikes you're using.